So. The Internet has been down for days, people have to use vpns to access it, and even then the connection is shitty.
As of today, mobile services are down too, with irregular periods of working. The government is actively preventing us from sharing information, does everything to keep us in the dark.
Now, the protests. About 5000 people have been arrested, at least 1 dead, but that's official statistics, so I bet there are more. The protests started out as peaceful, no property damage, no attacks towards the police. And yet even then people were beaten up, arrested, gassed, shot at — all kinds of human rights violations right here.
That was August 9th, today is 11th. Hospitals are full of people with severe trauma, and there are going to be more. The cities are crawling with military and special police force. They take people randomly and violently, more often than not beating them up with sticks for literally no fucking reason. Anyone — men, women, teenagers, elders. There are also some reports of people getting hurt in their homes (accidental bullets/gas through windows).
All of this — for one person who can't take a fucking hint that no one wants him here anymore, moreover, no one has wanted him for a very long time. My country is a terrifying place right now, and he did it, all of it.
Side note: three of my friends haven't been online since 9th, which is when the protests have started and the Internet went down. I don't know their numbers. So right now I'm playing a very funny game of guessing if they just couldn't access vpns or were taken and hurt. Better than your fucking boardgames, am I rite?? (upd., 12.08.2020: now that the internet is suddenly back, I know they're okay, thank god)
To think that on 8th I went out to buy a new pair of jeans and was generally happy, and now I'm scared to leave the house at all. Fun times, y'all.
I guess what I'm trying to do is... I don't know. I have zero idea what help to ask for. But maybe we could all make sure people talk about Belarus. That it's not a rare piece of news no one cares about. Instead, make the world see us.
gummygunk
blakekathryn
kianamaiart
